Bottle-capping machine.



H.W. VAN LEIR. BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13. 19l3- v Patented May16,1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

H. W. VAN LEIR.

I BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man SEPT. 13, 1913.

Patented May16,1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2- V H; W. VAN LEIR.

'' BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13 1913- Patented May16, 1916.

6 SHEETSS HEET 3- H. W. VAN LEIR. 1

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13, 1913.

1,183,781, 1 Patented May16, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

- H. w. VAN LEIR.

BOTT LE CAPPIN APPLICATION FILED May 16 EETSSHE G MACHINE. SEPT. i3, 1913.

Patented H. W. VAN LEIR;

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION man SEPT. 13. 1913.

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1 1,183,781. Patented 11[ay16,1916.-

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wfdm q which srATEs PATENT OFIIICE.

HENRY w. VAN mam, OF-PHILADELIEHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssrGNon TO s. s. WEN- ZELL MACHINE CDMPANY, 0F PHILAD 0E WEST VIRGINIA.

ELrHr-n, PENNSYLVANIA, A ooRr-oRA'rIoN BOTTLE-GAPPING MACHINE.

PatentedMa-y 16, 1916.

' Application filed September 13, 1913. Serial No; 789,623.

To all whom it may concern I v Be it known that I, HE RY W. VANLEIR,

a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Bottle- Capping Machines, of which the following is a specification. s

The object of my invention is to so construct .a bottle capping machine as to insure certainty in the feeding of the bottle crates tion between their successive operations, and to readily arrest the feeding of the caps when desired This object I attain in the manner hereinafter described, reference be: ing had to the. accompanying drawings, in

' Figure lis a side elevation ofa bottle filling and capping machine having capplng mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 1s a view, partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation,

' of part of themachine; Fig.3 is a similar view showing'some of the parts in a different position from that represented in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line aa,

Fig. 1; Fig. 5 isa view, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, on the line b- -b,. ,Fig'. 1; Fig.6 is a view, partly inplan'and partly in horizontal section, on the line c c, Fig. 1; Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are vertical sectlonal views illustrating certain gearing employed inconnection with the operation of different parts of the machine; Figs. 10'and'11 are sections in different positions of-parts 'ofgthe cap feeding mechanism, and Fig. 12

is a' transverse section illustrating a construction adopted when the niachine is duplex in character. Figs. 2 to 9, inclusive, are on a larger scale than Fig. 1, and Figs. 10 and 11 on a stilllarger-scale.

' In Fig. 1 of the drawing, 1 represents one of the fixed side frames of the machine, and 2, 3', 4,5 and 6 a. series of transverse shafts 'gearedtogeth'er as hereinafter described and serving to impart movements to the various operativeinembers of the ma chine, the mechanism operated-by the shaft 4 serving to, effect the raising and lower ng of the bottle crates, the mechanism operated by the shaft 5 serving to feed the crates for- 7 Ward intermittently through the machine, and also to aid in the operation of the capping devices, and the mechanism operated by the shaft 6 serving to complete the application of the caps to the filled bottles. The shaft 2 is the one to which power is applied, and this shaft is geared by bevel wheels 7' and 8 to a vertical wormshaft 9 which meshes with a worm 10 on the shaft 3, the latter, through the medium of gearing shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, serving to transmit intermittent movements to the shafts 4, 5 and 6 and to locksaid shafts in position between such movements.

As shown in Fig. 7, the shaft 3 has secured to it a disk 11 with two toothed segments 12 and 13 on its periphery, these toothed segments meshing respectively with similar toothed segments 12 and 13 on the periphery of a disk 14 which is secured to "the shaft..4,said disk 14--a;lso having between the segments 12 and 13 two concave seg-- ments 15 and 16. The shaft 3 rotates continuously but imparts intermittent movements of partialrotation to the shaft 4, and in the intervals between these movements the concave segment 15 or 16 bears upon the corresponding convex segment 15 or 16 of the disk 11 and serves to lock said shaft 4 in position. As shown in Fig. 8 the shaft 3 is also provided with a disk 20 having a toothed segment 21 thereon, which meshes :with the toothed periphery of a disk 23 se cured to a. shaft 24 so as to rotate the latter, a tooth of the disk 23being larger than the others and having a concave periphery.

Y a disk 32 secured to the shaft 6 so as to impart intermittent movements of full rotation to said shaft, one of the teeth 33 of the disk 32 being larger than the others and having a concave periphery which, during the intervals between the intermittent movements of the shaft (5, engages the convex surface 34 of the disk 30 and in position. v v The shaft 4 has at each end a disk 40 with projecting crank pin 41, the latter serves to lock said shaft.6

25 which, in the intervals between the intera slotted crosshead'43 on a frame 44,! (Fig. 1) whereby, 'assuch shaft 4 is intermittently rotated each frame 44 ismoved first in one direction and then in the opposite direction. To each end of each frame 44 is pivoted a pair of links 45, one of which is pivoted to a fixed bearing 46 on across member between the side frames 1', the other link being pivoted to lugs 47 on the underside of a table 48, (Fig.4) to which'rising and falling movements are therefore imparted as the frames 44 are reciprocated, there being a dwell both when the table is in the elevatedposition and when it is in the depressed position, owing to the fact that the disk is only rotated tothe' extent of a half turn at each movement so as to carry the crank pin 41' from one extreme of its throw to the other, the disk 40 being locked be tween successive movements.

The shaft 5 has at each enda disk '50 with crank pin 51, the latter being connected by a link 52 to the lower arm of a lever 53 which is pivotally mountedat 54 to a suitable support'on the fixed frame, and shown in Fig.

1' the upperarmof the lever 53 beingconnccted by means of an eccentrically located pivot 55 to one end of a link 56 whose other end is pivoted to a projecting boss on a slide 57, said slide being suitably guided longi tudinally on the fixed frame and being provided with spring hooks 58 having beveled heads 59' projecting inwardly beyond the slide and adapted to engage with the bottle carrying crates as during the forward movement of the'slide, as shown in Fig. 6. During the backward movement of the slide the beveled heads 59 of the hooks will strike the forwardedges of the following crates and the hooks will be laterally deflected untilthey reach the rear ends of said following crates, whereupon they will be projected so as to engage said rear ends. During the forward movement of the bottle crates'they rest upon rollers 35 (Figs. 5 andG) free to turn upon suitable pins' which, in the case of. a machine'dealing with'a'single row of .orate's, project inwardly from, the side frames of the machine.

with a double row of crates, such for in- 4:8,; upward extensions ofthe brackets 35*" stance as shown in Fig. '12, the table 48 has from the ,base of a drip tray 35*, the latter being supported upon and extending longitudinallybetween the guides by the central depending stems 48 at the ends :of the table supporting; a; longitudinal frame which carries a staggered row of rollers 35? that'contact w-ith the'inner sides of the'crates, holdmg. them morefirrnly in,proper alinement. nected to theupper arm of the lever 53,

In the case of a duplex'niachine dealing During the backward movement of the a slide 57 and its hooks 58 the crates are preventedfrom moving rearwardly by engagement with spring-actuated hooks 36 mounted upon the side framesl and having inwardly projecting and rearwardly beveled heads 37, so that as a crate ,a: is pushed forwardly past .said heads they will spring outwardly until the crate has passed them and will then spring inwardlyagain so as to engiige the back of the crate, as shown "in Fig.5. The rollers 35 have tapered flanges which. serve to keep the crates within proper lateral limits, or to restore said crates to proper lateral position should they develop any tendency to leave it.

There are three pairs ofhooks36 mounted upon vthe'fixed side frames'of themachine,

one hook on each ofthe left hand, interme diate and right hand "pairs of these hooks being shown in Fig.1, and there are a corresponding number of pairs of hooksl58 carried by the longitudinally reciprocating frame 57, as also shown in Fig. 1 The rising and falling 'table 48 is of sufficient length to accommodate two bottle crates separated from one another to an extent equal to the separation of the bottle filling and capping devices of the machine, and in feeding the machine a crate of empty bottles is first pushed forwardly over the rollers 35 until it is in position to be engaged by the heads of the first or left hand pairs of hooks 36 and 58, supposing that the frame 57 is then 'at the rear or left hand end of its reciprocating movement. On the first for ward or right hand movement of the frame 57, therefore, the crate of empty bottles will be moved forwardly into position beneath the filling devices and onto the table 48, and will there be engaged by the heads of the intermediate pair of hooks 36 so as to be.

prevented from moving backwardly with the frame .57 on the next rearward movement of the latter. When such rearward movement is completedthe crate of filled bottles will be engaged by the heads of the intermediate .pair of hooks 58, and on the next forward movement of said frame 57 \villbe carried forwardly into position beneath the capping devices, and will there be engaged by the heads of the forward or right hand pair of hooks 36, to be retained as before. v= On the next backward movement offthe frame 57 the crate of filled and capped bottles will be engaged by the heads of the forward or right hand pair of hooks 58," and on the next forward-movement of ,said frame 57 will be carried forwardly from thetable 48 and deposited upon the rollers-3.5 Iatthe delivery or right hand end of the machine. a

By reason of the eccentricity of the pivot 55 whereby the end of the link 56 is conturning of said eccentrically pivoted end of the link in one direction or the other on the pivot 55.W1ll, because of such eccentricity of the pivot, provide for a limited amount filling devices constitutes no part of my present inventiornandany ordinary form of valved filllng device which opens onthe rise of the bottle, as shownin Fig.2, and closes 4 on the .descent of the bottle, as shown in Fig.

3, !naybe; employed; 'In the present in;- stance I-have shown the fillingtank at 38 in Figs. 2 and 3, and the vertically movable sprggg-depressed and valved filling nozzles at The shaft 6'hasat each'end a disk 6Q with crank pin 61 which engages the lower end of a rod 62, the'upper'end of the latter being secured to a swinging arm 63 pivotally mounted upon a slide 64,,the latter being vertically movable in guides65 on the fixed frame and carrying a cross head 66 ('Fig. 4) from which are suspended a series of stems 67, each carrying a plunger 68 ('Fig. 3) adapted to a'vertical openin in a frame 69, which extends transversely etween ajsupporting frame 69 mounted u on the opposite side frames, as shown-in Fig. 4, and is secured thereto so as to occupy a fixed ver-- tical position VVhen the disks 4'0, 50 and 60 are'in the position of rest theircrank pins always occupy a dead-center position thus providing. a precautionary means in addition to the" locking of the shafts 4, 5- and 6,

to prevent accidental movement ofeither of these disks from its positionat rest by means of force applied through the devices to which the crank pins impart motion.

Vertically guided in suitable openings in the frame 69 are the lowei portions of cap reservoirs 70, of which there are as-many as'there are bottles in a crate, said cap reservoirs being mounted .as hereinafter de-" scribed so asto be raised and lowered in respect to said frame 69. v.

Guided in the supporting frame 69, as

. shown inFig. 4, so. as to be free-to reciprocate' longitudinally,wis a cap feedingplate 76 having therein as many cap receiv ng openreceiving openings ings as'there are cap. reservoirs 7 0, said cap eing so disposed in the plate 76 asto register with their respective cap reservoirs when the said. feeding plate-- 76 is in position to receive the'g ca s from said reservoirs. Secured to the cap eedingplate I shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

76, as for instance by means of screws 71 (Fig. 4) is a dependin capping'head 72 in which are openings 3 line with the cap receiving openings of the feeding plate,

76, each of said openings 73 being enlarged,

center said mouth during the capping opera-..

tion. The rings 74 are normally held in their proper-position by means of springs 75 so that s'aid rings can yield verticallyin order to accommodate themselves to inequalities 'in the height of the bottles.

When the feed slide occupies its rearward position a cap receiving opening is in line vertically with each of. the cap reservoirs, as shown in F ig. ,3, while, when the feed slide is in its forward position, each of the openingsthe'rein is in line vertically with one of the plunger containing'openings in the frame 69, above the saidslide and also with a bottle contained in a crate which is in position beneath the capping devices, as shown in Fig. 2.

Each of the cap reservoirs contains a stack of-eaps 78, which may descend in the reservoir by their own Weight, or such descent may be assisted by means, of a' weight 7 9' applied to the top of the stack, as shown in Figs. 2, 3'and 4. The descent of the stack is arrested by contact of the lowermost cap with I hooked lugs 80, these lugs being located one at each side of the. reservoir and projecting sufliciently' below the reservoir to support the lowermost 'capbelow the bottom of the same, said cap then occupyinga position in the HPPBI'POIUOH of the corresponding opening 77 of the feedslide 76,

'as sh'own in'Fig. 10. .When, therefore, the feed slide is drawn forward it carries with it the lowermost cap of the stack in each of the reservoirs 70,. and moves said cap into line'with a plunger '68 in the frame 69,- so

that when said plunger descends it will, as shown in Fig.2, drive the cap out of the opening in the feed slide 76 through the opening 73 in the capping head 72 and into positing the cap upon the cap-seat at the base of said recess. When this-has been accomplished the plunger is free to yield upwardly supposing that there is any further downwardmovement of the cross head 66 which carries the plunger, for the plunger stem is not secured rigidly to the cross head but is acted upon by a spring .81 interposed between the underside of said cross head and a nut or collar 82 on the plunger spindle 67, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In order to prevent engagement of the spring 81 with the threads ofthe plunger spindle, the latter is surrounded by a tubular sleeve 67*, as also Each of the cap receptacles 70 is mounted by means of projecting lugs 83 upon a ion the recessed mouth of the bottle, finally deits upper end each of the pins 85 contacts with a shaft 86 mounted in the cross head 84 so as to be free to turn therein, as shown in Figs. 1d and 11, this shaft extending beyond the cross head 84, as shown in Fig. 1, and being provided at one end with a handle 87 whereby it may be conveniently. rocked to the extent of a quarter turn so as to cause:

either a fiat face of the'shaft 86 *to upon the upper ends of the pins85,.as shown in Fig. 10, or so as tocau'se' the-curvedface of the-shaft to bear upon the upper ends of said pins, as shown in Fig. 11., A shaft 86 is located at each side of the cross head84, and the two shafts are connected'by means of arms 88 and-a link 89, as shown in Fig. 4,

so as to move in unison. .When the shafts .are in the position shown in Fig. 10 the cross head 84 ispermitted' to drop so as to lower the cap reservoir and permit the lowermost cap to enter the opening 77 in the 'cap feeding slide 73 and thereby permit. of

the removal of a capfroni each reservoir on each reciprocation of said slide, but when the shafts 86 are adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 11 the cross head84 and its cap reservoir 70 are raised so as to carry the lowermost cap of the stack out of the opening 77 in the feed slide7 6 and thus arrest the removal of the caps from the reservoirs until the'shafts 86 are again manipulated so;

as to lower said reservoirs. By this means the delivery of caps to the cap feeding slide 76 can be readily arrested whenever there are no bottles to receive the caps, and this can be done without arresting the operation of the other parts of the machinel In order that the cap supporting lugs may not interfere with the free reciprocating. movement of the feed slide 76when the cap reservoirs arein their lowered position, as shown in Fig. 10, said cap. slide has formed init longitudinal grooves 90, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. Reciprocating movement is imparted to the cap feeding slide 76 from the lever 53 by means of the devices shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, on reference to which it will be noted that to one end of said slide 76 is pivoted a link 91, which is also pivoted to an arm 92 on a rock shaft 93 adapted to bearings in brackets projecting from the frame 69, said rock shaft also having another arm 94 which is slotted for the reception of a bolt 95 where by said arm can be connected to. the upper end of a rod96 whose lower 'end is pivotally connected to the lever 53.

76, and provision for instantly arresting the movement of said slide when desired is afforded by'a notched head 97 at the upper end of the rod 96, which notched head can be readily. moved intoor out of engagement with the bolt 95 in order to place the feed slide 76 into or out of operative relation with theactuating lever 53.

- At each side of the'machine at the deliv-' ery end of the same is an elevated rail 98, these rails servin for the support of the cap feeding slide 6 and capping'head'72, when as is sometimes the case, said parts havelto be disconnected from the mechanism which normally coiiperates therewith.

It is preferable to rotatethe main shaft 2 of the machine'by frictional driving mechanism'soas to permit of the stoppage of the operating parts of the machine when any member of the same meets with a resistance which it cannot overcome, thereby preventing 'the breakages which would otherwiseresult. 4

I claim: p 1., The combinatiom in 'a bottle capping machine, of intermittently operating devices for forcing I caps into the mouths of bottles, a crate feeding slide, a lever for actuating the same, and a link connecting said lever and slide, said link having at one end an eccentrically pivoted connection whereby movement of the link 'on said eccentric pivot will cause adjustment of the slide from'and toward the lever.

2. The combination, in a bottle capping machine, of a frame having cap reservoirs, a reciprocating cap feeding slide having cap receiving openings and opposite longitudinal grooves extending from one cap receiving* opening to another, and cap supporting lugs carried by the cap reservoirs and projecting into said longitudinal grooves of the feed slide so as to permit the lowermost caps of the stack to enter the openings therein. V

3. Thecombination, in a bottle capping machine. of cap reservoirs. means for supporting the caps therein with th elowermost cap projecting beyond the bottom of the reservoir. a cap feeding slide, and means for raising and lowering said cap reservoirs so asto carry the lowermost cap into or out of range of the cap feeding slide.

4. The combination, in a bottle capping machine, of a series of cap reservoirs, each provided with means for supporting a stack of caps so that the lowermost cap will project beyond the bottom 'of-the reservoir. a reciprocating cap feeding slide. a support for the series of reservoirs. and means for raising and lowering said support so as to simultaneously raise and lower the cap reservoirs and move the lowermost caps therein out of or into position for engaging the feeding slide. I

The combination. in a bottle capping machine, of a fixed frame, having upwardly projecting pins, a vertically adjustable support carrying a series of cap reservoirs and having cammed shafts resting upon said pins, and means for rocking said shafts so as to raise and lower the support which carries the cap reservoirs. i

('3. The combination, in a bottle capping machine, of a fixed frame having upwardly projecting pins, a vertically adjustable support carrying a series of cap reservoirs, two pin-supported shafts mounted in said adjustable support so as to rock therein, each of said shafts having a cammed face, means for'imparting movement directly to one of said shafts, and meansfor transmitting said movement to the other shaft. 1

7. The combination, in a bottle handling machine, of a support over which the bottle crates can be fed in succession, a vertically movable table for raising'and lowering said crates in the intervals between their forward movements, longitudinally separated pairs of toggles for supporting said table, a frame connecting said toggles, said frame having a slotted cross head, a crank having a pin for engaging said slot, and means for imparting intermittent movements of partial rotation to said crank.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY V. VAN LEIR.

\Vitnesses Ti-ios. J. LOUDERBACK,

B. H. HARTLEY. 

